Wednesday, August 30, 2006

huh? you must be married to have a life!?!

Life

I love games.  I always have.   Board games, card games, word games, dice games are all ok by me.  One of the most popular classic American board games--besides Monopoly--is the Game of Life.  But, did you know that in order to play the game of life you must get married?

Genevieve A. Longley wrote a beautiful article inspired after laughing about this game rule and saddened by the fact that many singles live in a holding pattern waiting for life to begin (aka waiting for marriage).  In the article, she tells about how she was waiting for a missionary husband to come along until "finally, one day, God was able to show [her] that He hadn't called [her] at that point to marry a missionary but to be one."

After this "wake up to life call," Genevieve was able to serve the Lord in Argentina for over 12 years in unique ways only someone unmarried could.  She died at the young age of 43 from cancer.  Six months before she died, she wrote these words:

"No one is guaranteed a tomorrow; we each live by the grace of God. Is ours a temporary Dixie Cup® of life or an elegant crystal goblet from which we can drink deeply? Will we as Christian singles buy into the thinking that says we must first be married before starting The Game of Life® or will we choose to say, 'This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.' (Psalm 118:24)"

As unmarried women, we must start life before we are given a marriage partner.  In fact, one is never promised us, nor is it our greatest need (however, a Savior is).  Nonetheless, we can still hope that one day we will be interrupted by a God given husband.  We are able to do so because we can trust God with a hope deferred--we can say with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (aka Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego): the God we serve is able to . . . and even if he does not we still choose to worship Him alone (Daniel 3:16-18). 

Not as easy as it sounds, right?  Only by the grace of God are we able to do it. 

Go read Genevieve A. Longley's story. You'll be glad you did.

Aug 30, 2006 2:04:00 AM | being single

2 Comments

Emily

Hi Amanda, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I also happened to stumble across your blog a few weeks ago from a link on the Beautiful Blogs 2006 awards, and have been reading some of your wonderful and insightful posts!

I totally agree with this post - life starts now and not when we get married. The most important goal in our life is not to marry but to become more like Christ - and whatever way God decides to work that out in our life is up to Him, because He is absolutely and perfectly wise and He always knows what's best for us.

I know our Father must be smiling down on you as you are doing your best to trust Him :)

Emily

Posted by: Emily | Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 05:58 PM

joyce

amanda, thanks for sharing that great quote, article and your encouragement.

you inspired me to write (which i haven't done in a while, thank you!) =)

http://www.xanga.com/rejoyce/525175645/let-the-game-begin.html

Posted by: joyce | Saturday, September 02, 2006 at 11:55 AM

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